EDITOR’S NOTE: San Marcos city council member Chris Jones announced his bid for a third term in this press release distributed July 4. The Mercury prints unedited candidate announcement statements for all city and county candidates. Send announcements to bill@sanmarcosmercury.com or brad@sanmarcosmercury.com. Full text of Jones’ announcement:

In the spirit of meeting the challenges of tomorrow as one community, Chris Jones has filed for reelection for a second term on the San Marcos City Council, and he is seeking the support of citizens from all parts of the community. Jones promises to continue listening to the citizens, and working for better jobs and better quality of life for all residents of the city.

“As a proud alumnus of Texas State University, and a permanent, dedicated citizen of San Marcos, I am asking each of you to step forward and join me in continuing this commitment to a strong and healthy future for our community,” Jones said, as he announced his decision to run for reelection to City Council, Place 4.
To meet tomorrow’s challenges, the 24-year-old councilman will continue his effort to bring every faction of the community together. The City Council Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4, during the General Election.

“When I decided to meet the challenges of this office, I pledged to listen, learn and do my best to bring every faction of our community together. I’m encouraged by our successes and look forward to the challenges of the future. I promise you, the concerned, impassioned and committed citizens of San Marcos, that I will continue to listen to your needs, concerns and dreams, and ask that you support our effort by electing me to a second term. Through your support, San Marcos has made great strides in meeting the challenges of today but we cannot stop thinking about tomorrow.” continued Jones, the incumbent councilman.

“The Austin-San Marcos corridor is among the fastest growing regions of the nation. We cannot stop that. But with good leadership and thoughtful planning, we can step forward together and direct this growth while maintaining the quality that has attracted people to this region for thousands of years,” Jones remarked.

“We must hone in and determine what companies we want in San Marcos, and we must actively recruit and court them. That is why in this budget cycle I will be supporting a viable economic development market survey. This survey would authorize the city manager and the economic development board to determine the type of industry which best fits our community, based on our workforce and resources as well as the direction our citizens seek,” Jones announced.

In addition to viable and vital economic development, Jones wants to continue to improve the quality of life for San Marcos citizens, because he believes it helps shape the identity of the city.

“In my first year on the city council, I asked that we set aside tax money for a branding project. The council saw the importance of giving San Marcos a distinct identity and committed the same funding in the next two budget cycles, giving us the money now to start this project. It is highly important to put quality behind this brand; therefore, in the next three years, I will be asking my colleagues to make significant investments in improving the infrastructure of San Marcos” Jones said.

“Just as my plans for the future of San Marcos are interwoven and depend on the success of each other, once re-elected to a second term, I look forward being a part of bringing the same continuity and collaborative success to the council and the city” said Jones.

Jones believes that in the past three years the council has reflected the direction of the community, and has proven to be progressive and strong in its message that “San Marcos is open for business.” As he tosses his hat into the ring for another term, Jones said, “I am asking for the help of all of our citizens. Each of us has a voice. Together we can meet the challenges of the future and maintain a strong and vibrant community for ALL of San Marcos.”

During his freshman term in office, the San Marcos City Council has championed progressive issues such as the Rio Vista Falls project; the purchase of the maximum amount of “green” wholesale power available to us from the LCRA; the acquisition of 250 acres of environmentally sensitive parkland above the headwaters of our beautiful San Marcos River; the creation of a $500,000 economic development war chest; streamlined a one-stop shop for development permits; and initiated the development of a downtown master plan with a strong emphasis on attracting members of the creative class.

Jones was elected to a three-year term in Place 4 on the San Marcos City Council in 2005. He serves on the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Steering Committee for the National League of Cities as well as, representing the City Council on the Convention and Visitor Bureau Board of Directors and the Minority Tourism Board of Directors. He also is a member of the Downtown Association, Young Elected Officials, National Black Caucus of Elected Officials, Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Black City Council Members.

For more information about Chris Jones’ San Marcos City Council campaign, go to www.christopherjones.org